I was given these Spirograph sets by MJM Australia to review. This is not a paid review. All opinions in this post are my own. Want to know what I thought? Read on!

It seems everything old is new again – and I’m not just basing this statement on the return of the bodysuit (gah!). Questionable 90s fashion aside, popular toys from the past are also making a comeback. After featuring Fashion Plates on the blog last month, Spirograph sets are another favourite which have returned for a new generation of kids to discover.

Winner of last year’s Toy & Hobby Retailer Industry Award (Arts & Crafts), Spirograph is great for aspiring artists to create millions of amazing designs through the use of iconic wheels and rings. It’s the same concept from the original set first released in 1965, however reengineered and updated for today’s kids. All sets come with a detailed design guide that explains the fundamentals as well as instructions to create your own designs.

I let Miss T and her older cousins loose on the Spirograph Deluxe Set. They were excited to get going and after a brief flick through the instructions began creating their first designs. Creating a design with the Spirograph Deluxe Set is detailed and requires patience, concentration plus a certain level of technical skill. I can see why it’s recommended for ages 8 and over.

As much as Miss T (just shy of 7 years old) got the hang of it and enjoyed creating designs, she did get frustrated and required some assistance. My older nieces (ages 11 and 17) were able to grasp the concept more easily. It’s fantastic for fine motor skills, spatial awareness and encouraging kids to use their imagination – the Deluxe Set would keep older kids entertained for hours as there are so many beautifully intricate designs to create. My friend’s kids – boys aged 9 and 11 – love their Deluxe Set and she raves about how it’s a great “downtime activity” for them. I could quite happily spend hours drawing and experimenting with the various wheels to create different designs. Move over adult colouring-in!

The Deluxe Set may be for older kids, but fear not as there is a Spirograph Jr. set for ages 3 and over. The large design gears are easier to work with and younger ones can turn their designs into cool Spirograph pictures like bunnies, crabs, lions and fish. This is the kind of creating my Mr TT (age 4) can get stuck into.

Handy for travelling with kids, the Spirograph Travel Design Set is for kids aged 5 and over. It has a built-in design ring, work surface and storage compartment for holding your wheels, pens, paper, design guide and finished artwork. Perfect for designing in the car, on the plane or just pop it in your bag for when you’re out and about.

The Spirograph Shapes Set is a new set for ages 8 and over that features 12 wheels in all-new unique shapes, as well as 3 new Spirograph rings to create a never-before-seen assortment of Spirograph designs.

Thanks to MJM Australia, I have a Spirograph Shapes Set to giveaway (valued at $39.95 RRP).

All you need to do is tell me by commenting on the Spirograph post on my Facebook page: What did you love to create when you were a kid?

Terms and conditions – This giveaway is only open to Australian residents. This giveaway closes at midnight AWST on Saturday 10 December 2016. Winner will be contacted on Sunday 11 December 2016. One entry per person. This is a game of skill. Entries will be judged on their creativity by a panel who will decide the winner.

Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED.

Spirograph sets make a fun, creative and affordable gift idea for kids – one that will keep them occupied and happily creating for hours. The tough bit will be keeping the set away from us adults who also want a turn!

You can find Spirograph sets in specialty toy shops, David Jones, Myer and Toys R Us.

And because I love a good flashback, here’s some Spirograph TV ads from the 60s and 70s. From “the world’s most fascinating new toy” to “groovy designs” to “your eyes won’t believe what your hands have done!”, kids back then also had “Spiromania fever”!